California Wildfires & Leadership Nominations

California Wildfires & Leadership Nominations
by
January 18, 2025

The wildfires in the Los Angeles area have been devastating over the past week. The images we are seeing on TV and social media seem surreal. Woodmont is doing some important things to help at this time.

  1. We provided sandwiches for those working on the front lines.
  2. Farrell is heading up a pajama and underwear drive. Remember, so many have lost all of their belongings. You can drop them here at church this week or Sunday.
  3. You can click here to make a financial contribution.

We will continue to do whatever we can to make a difference and to help those who have lost so much. We are praying for everybody affected!

Leadership Nominations will be accepted through the end of January. Please submit them by clicking here. To be eligible to serve as a deacon, you have to be an active member for at least a year when your term begins. To be eligible for elder, you have to be an active member for at least five years when you term begins. Also, ask these basic questions when considering potential candidates. Are they in worship regularly? Are they in a small group of Sunday School class? Do they serve others? Do they take their faith and spiritual life seriously?

Leadership in any setting is certainly not for the faint of heart. It takes passion, conviction, nerve, thick skin, and resilience. Tony Jarvis says this his classic book With Love and Prayers: “Leaders are caught in a catch-22. If a leader is strong, undeterred by projection, blame, and calumny, he is then labeled as arrogant, authoritarian, and dictatorial. If he sets aside his initiatives, goes with the way the wind is blowing, if he backs down at all, he or she is immediately labeled as ‘weak’ and ‘a waffler’.” There are many in our culture who want to be leaders but aren’t willing to pay the price. They don’t know what it entails. Many want the recognition and prestige without the responsibility, the glory without the hard work.

One of the best books I have ever read on leadership is Edwin Friedman’s Failure of Nerve where he argues that leaders fail when they lose heart and give in to anxiety. Our culture is full of anxiety. Leaders fail when they lose nerve, and it happens often. Anybody who wants to lead must pay attention to their spiritual tank. If the tank is empty or close to empty, leadership will be very difficult if not impossible. Those who want to be spiritual leaders in life need to have these six core traits:

  1. Character – it’s who you are that matters. Character is formed over time, and the foundation is laid early in life. We all fall short at times but character is built through the trials and tribulations of life. Patterns of behavior matter.
  2. Courage. Nobody can lead anything without having the courage to do so. Why? Leaders are criticized and projected upon all the time. Courage combined with resilience will make all the difference.
  3. A Positive Attitude. Nobody wants to follow a cynic who is always negative and pessimistic. True leaders always inspire hope and focus on the good.
  4. Teachable. Life is a classroom and we must never stop learning and growing. Once you stop learning, you can no longer lead. This involves being able to listen empathetically to the concerns of others.
  5.  Relationship-focused. Effective leaders surround themselves with other leaders and form relationships with those they lead. Trust is built in the process as the currency of relationships. This is true in the church, business, education, politics, and any other field. The healthiest spiritual leaders form and maintain strong relationships.
  6. Humility. Leaders must work to overcome pride and maintain a deep sense of humility. Being wrong and apologizing are always signs of strength.

Prayers for all those in California who need our help. Prayers for those who will be nominated for leadership at our church this spring!

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